Act that was enacted to fight bigotry now embodies it

A discriminatory law

Published: Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 4:22 p.m.

Supreme Court justices were correct last week to question whether the Voting Rights Act should still be in force. The law that was written to combat bigotry has become an act of discrimination itself.

The Voting Rights Act was necessary in 1965 when it was first passed. At that time, many states and local jurisdictions did all they could to keep African-American citizens from voting. But this nation does not see those regional racial disparities anymore. The voting issues that arise in the South are common throughout the nation.

For instance, one of the key current battles over voting rights surrounds the issue of requiring voters to present photo identification to vote. That has been an issue in South Carolina. But it’s also been an issue in New Hampshire, Indiana, South Dakota and Idaho.

But while federal officials would have to go to court to stop photo ID laws in those states, they could simply prohibit South Carolina from enacting its law. That’s because the Voting Rights Act forces South Carolina to submit all voting laws to the U.S. Justice Department for pre-clearance.

In this instance, the Obama administration, which doesn’t like photo ID laws, prohibited the state from adopting the law. The state took the issue to court and won. The law takes effect next year.

But why are South Carolina and other states treated differently? Because we have a history of racial discrimination? A history of discrimination 50 years ago is not a good reason for discrimination today.

The people who ran Southern states when voters’ rights were abridged are dead and gone. They are not running Southern states anymore. And it is wrong for Congress to say current Southern leaders can’t be trusted because of the acts of their predecessors.

Basically, when Congress voted in 2006 to extend the law for another 25 years, it declared that the nation can’t trust Southern leaders because they were born and raised in the South. That’s bigotry, pure and simple.

Discriminating among states is discriminating among people based on their heritage. It’s a form of bigotry perpetrated on a set of citizens by Congress.

This bigotry should be overruled by the courts. This nation shouldn’t have separate and unequal voting laws. Either all states should have to submit their election laws for pre-clearance by the Justice Department or none should.

At the court’s hearing, even Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, arguing for the Obama administration on behalf of the law, had to admit that Southerners are not more racist than people in other areas of the country. If that’s true, and it is, then what is the purpose of this law?

The Voting Rights Act served a purpose when it was enacted. It served to limit and resolve unfair practices. It no longer does. Now, it perpetuates bigotry.

<p>Supreme Court justices were correct last week to question whether the Voting Rights Act should still be in force. The law that was written to combat bigotry has become an act of discrimination itself.</p><p>The Voting Rights Act was necessary in 1965 when it was first passed. At that time, many states and local jurisdictions did all they could to keep African-American citizens from voting. But this nation does not see those regional racial disparities anymore. The voting issues that arise in the South are common throughout the nation.</p><p>For instance, one of the key current battles over voting rights surrounds the issue of requiring voters to present photo identification to vote. That has been an issue in South Carolina. But it's also been an issue in New Hampshire, Indiana, South Dakota and Idaho.</p><p>But while federal officials would have to go to court to stop photo ID laws in those states, they could simply prohibit South Carolina from enacting its law. That's because the Voting Rights Act forces South Carolina to submit all voting laws to the U.S. Justice Department for pre-clearance.</p><p>In this instance, the Obama administration, which doesn't like photo ID laws, prohibited the state from adopting the law. The state took the issue to court and won. The law takes effect next year.</p><p>But why are South Carolina and other states treated differently? Because we have a history of racial discrimination? A history of discrimination 50 years ago is not a good reason for discrimination today.</p><p>The people who ran Southern states when voters' rights were abridged are dead and gone. They are not running Southern states anymore. And it is wrong for Congress to say current Southern leaders can't be trusted because of the acts of their predecessors.</p><p>Basically, when Congress voted in 2006 to extend the law for another 25 years, it declared that the nation can't trust Southern leaders because they were born and raised in the South. That's bigotry, pure and simple.</p><p>Discriminating among states is discriminating among people based on their heritage. It's a form of bigotry perpetrated on a set of citizens by Congress.</p><p>This bigotry should be overruled by the courts. This nation shouldn't have separate and unequal voting laws. Either all states should have to submit their election laws for pre-clearance by the Justice Department or none should.</p><p>At the court's hearing, even Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, arguing for the Obama administration on behalf of the law, had to admit that Southerners are not more racist than people in other areas of the country. If that's true, and it is, then what is the purpose of this law?</p><p>The Voting Rights Act served a purpose when it was enacted. It served to limit and resolve unfair practices. It no longer does. Now, it perpetuates bigotry.</p>